Cut pile tufting machine



Oct. 19, 1965 B. H. WITTLER CUT FILE TUFTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1962 INVENTOR.

BY BERNARD H. WITTLER WITNESS :2 9

ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 B. H. WITTLER 3,212,467

CUT PILE TUFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

BERNARD H. -WITTLER T s WI NES BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,212,467 CUT PILE TUFTING MACHINE Bernard H. Wittler, Rossville, Ga., assignor, by mesne assignments, to TheSinger Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 247,887 Claims. (Cl. 11279) The present invention relates to cut pile tufting machines and particularly to the knife mechanism of such means for severing the loops comprising a knife that acts against the under edge of the loop-penetrating blade of each of the hooks. The cutting edge of the knifemust be kept sharp and is normally removed periodically for sharpening and then re-set. In view of the fact that a yardage tufting machine has a large number of knives, which may be in the order of thirteen hundred, keeping the knives sharpened, is a time consuming operation. It will be apparent that the wear on the cutting edge of the knife is materially increased as the operating speeds are increased, which fact has acted to limit the practical operating speeds of cut pile tufting machines.

Thus, prolonging'the useful life of the knives between sharpenings permits operation of the machine at higher speeds and also represents a significant savings not only in labor but also in down-time on the machine.

In accordance with this invention, the useful life of the knife of a tufting machine has been significantly increased. Briefly, the means for accomplishing this comprises an improvement in the cutting action between the hook and the knife such that the respective cutting edges pass only in one direction. More particularly, the knife, which-has heretofore been oscillated relative to the hook is in accordance with this invention, given an orbital movement which is timed relative to the actuation of the hook such that the cutting edge thereof passes the cutting edge of the hook in one direction only, i.e., the direction in which the knife closes, and the point of the knife remains on the face of the hook as the knife descends. In this manner, the cutting edge of the knife does not back off relative to the cutting edge of the hook, or in other words, does not pass the cutting edge of the hook in the direction in which the knife opens, thereby reducing the dulling effect on the knife.

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrange- .ments of parts as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enable those skilled in the art readily to understand the function, operation, construction and advantages of it when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a tufting machine embodying the present invention, and

FIGS. 2-5 are detail views of the hook and knife of the machine of FIG. 1 illustrating the same in successive operative positions.

With reference to the drawings, there is illustrated a tufting machine comprising a frame 1 including a head 2 overhanging a bed 3. A backing fabric F in the form of a web is passed across a bed plate 4 in the direction of the arrow A FIG. 1, by a conventional feed mechanism including feed rolls 5. Mounted in the head 2 for endwise reciprocation is a push rod 6 which at its lower end carries a needle bar 7 that in turn carries a needle 8. The rod 6 is adapted to be reciprocated by conventional mechanism (not shown) including a crank rod that cooperates with an eccentric upon a main shaft journaled longitudinally of the head 2.

Longitudinally of the bed 3 there is journaled a hook shaft 9 on which is mounted a bracket 10 carrying a hook bar 11 that in turn carries a book 12. The hook 12 includes a shank 13 and a loop penetrating blade 14 extending from the shank and adapted to enter the loop of yarn presented by the needle 8. Also journaled longitudinally of the bed 3 is a bed shaft 15 that is adapted to be rotated by means (not shown) connecting the same to the main shaft of the machine. Oscillation is imparted to the hook shaft 9 from the bed shaft 15 by an eccentric 16 mounted on the bed shaft and embraced by a drive link 17 that is connected to a crank 18 in the hook shaft.

The knife mechanism comprises a knife 19 carried by a knife bar 20 and disposed on one side of and in engagement with the hook 12. The knife bar 20 is secured to one end of a lever 21 which, intermediate its ends, is formed with a strap portion 22 that receives a bearing 23 that in turn receives an eccentric 24 mounted on the bed shaft 15. The other end of the lever 21 is pivotally connected to one end of an anchor link 25 that is pivotally mounted at its other end on the bed 3 by a bracket 26. The knife 19 includes the cutting edge 27 which is biased by the flexibility of the knife against the side of the hook 12 and is adapted to cooperate with the under edge 28 of 'the blade 14 which acts as a ledger to sever the loops on the blade to form cut pile. In the usual manner, the knife operates only in the rear portion of the blade 14 so that several loops may be present on the hook at a time, the loops being severed by the knife as they are moved back on the blade 14 as the fabric F is fed and thus carried into the area in which the knife is operative.

The operation of the above mechanism is broadly similar to that of a cut pile tufting machine, which is substantially as follows. The needle 8 is reciprocated to penetrate the fabric F and to project a loop of yarn therethrough. As the needle rises to cast a loop, the hook 12 is .advanced in its loop penetrating stroke wherein the blade 14 enters the loop of yarn presented by the needle. The loops remain on the hook and as the fabric F is advanced, they are carried back on the blade 14 and are eventually severed by the knife 19.

The mechanics of the structure is such that upon rotation of the eccentric 24, there is imparted to the knife '19 a motion that is essentially elliptical. As illustrated in FIGS. 25, the path of the point 29 of the knife is indicated at P with the points 30, 31, 32 and 33 on the path P representing respectively the position of the point 29 of the knife at the top or end of its cutting stroke, the mid-point of its return stroke, the bottom or end of its return stroke, and the mid-point of its cutting stroke. The knife always moves in the path P in the direction of the arrow K. During the cutting stroke of the knife, which occurs upon movement of the knife from the point 32 to the point 30, the knife closes with respect to the edge 28 of the hook. During the return stroke of-the knife, which occurs upon movement of the knife from the point 30 to the point 32, the knife opens with respect to the edge 28 of the hook.

The knife 19 is timed relative to the hook 12 such that the cutting stroke of the knife substantially coincides with the return stroke of the hook 12, that is, they 3 either coincide or, as is customary, the knife may lag behind the hook by about fifteen degrees.

While the point 29 of the knife actually moves along the path P, the movement of the knife relative to hook 12 is a function of both the movement of the knife and the movement of the hook. Thus, the path that the point 29 actually traces on the hook 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 by the path M wherein the points 30a, 31a, 32a and 33a, correspond respectively to the points 30, 31, 32 and 33 but with the displacement thereof that results from movement of the hook relative to the knife.

The disposition and the timing of the knife 19 relative to the hook 12 is such that the cutting edge 27 of the knife crosses the edge 28 of the hook in one direction only, i.e., in closing during the cutting stroke. During the entire return stroke of the knife, the cutting edge is disposed in engagement with the side 'of the hook 12 and thus does not pass the edge 28 of the hook a second time, as is customary on opening the knife relative to the hook. This action will be apparent from FIGS. 2-5 wherein successive ninety degree positions are illustrated and the motion of the point 29 of the knife relative to the hook from one position to the next is illustrated by the extension of the bold lines of the plate M. As Will be noted, the pont 29 of the knife, and thus the remainder of the cutting edge 27, remains in engagement with the side of the hook until about thirty degrees past the end of its return stroke, illustrated by the point 32. The knife then closes progressively relative to the hook until the cutting edge 27 passes the edge 28 of the hook, which occurs at about sixty degrees before the end of the cutting stroke, that is, the point 30. In passing the edge 28, the cutting edge 27 severs any uncut loops of yarn on that portion of the blade 14 across which the edge 27 has passed.

While only one set of element, i.e., the needle 8, hook 12 and knife 19, are illustrated, it will be apparent that a plurality of such elements are normally provided, all of which are the same at the illustrated set in construction and operation.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of my invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is:

1. In a cut pile tufting machine, a frame including a bed and a head overhanging the bed, an endwise movblae needle carried by said head for penetrating a fabric on said bed and for projecting a loop of yarn therethrough, a hook mounted in said bed and having a shank and a loop penetrating blade extending from said shank for entering a loop of yarn presented by said needle, means for actuating said hook, a knife disposed on one side of said hook and having a cutting edge cooperating with the under edge of said blade for severing loops thereon to form cut pile, means for mounting said knife in said bed and means associated with said mounting means for actuating said knife in timed relation to the actuation of said hook for movement relative to said hook in a path wherein said cutting edge of said knife is moved past and in cutting engagement with the under edge of said blade as said knife is closed with respect to the under edge of said blade on the cutting stroke thereof and is moved along said shank out of engagement with the under edge of said blade as the knife is opened with respect to the under edge of said blade on the return stroke thereof.

2. In a cut pile tufting machine, a frame including a bed and a head overhanging the bed, an endwise movable needle carried by said head for penetrating a fabric on said bed and for projecting a loop of yarn therethrough, a hook mounted in said bed and having a shank and a loop seizing blade extending from said shank for entering a loop of yarn presented by said needle, means for imparting a loop-seizing and a.return motion to said hook, a knife disposed on one side of said hook and having a cutting edge cooperating with the under edge of said blade for severing loops thereon to form cut pile, means for mounting said knife in said bed for movement relative to said hook in a substantially elliptical path including a cutting stroke wherein said cutting edge of said knife is moved in a direction to close with respect to the under edge of said blade and a return stroke wherein said cutting edge is moved in a direction to open with respect to the under edge of said blade, and means for actuating said knife in timed relation to the actuation of said hook wherein said hook and knife approach substantially simultaneously the ends of their return and cutting strokes respectively whereby said cutting edge will pass the under edge of said blade in cutting engagement on the cutting stroke thereof and will pass in spaced relation to the under edge of said blade on the return stroke thereof.

3. In a cut pile tufting machine, a frame including a bed and a head overhanging the bed, an endwise movable needle carried by said head for penetrating a fabric on said bed and for projecting a loop of yarn therethrough, a hook mounted in said bed and having a loop penetrating blade for entering a loop of yarn presented by said needle, means for actuating said hook, a knife having a cutting edge cooperating with the under edge of the blade of said hook for severing loops thereon to form cut pile, means for mounting said knife in said bed and for actuating the same in timed relation to the actuation of said hook for imparting to said knife an orbital movement relative to said hook including a cutting stroke wherein said cutting edge is move-d past and in cutting engagement with the under edge of said blade as said knife is closed with respect to the under edge of said blade and a return stroke wherein said cutting edge is moved along the side of said hook out of engagement with the under edge of said hook, said means comprising a bed shaft, an eccentric on said bed shaft, an anchor link pivotally connected to said frame, a lever operatively connected to said eccentric and said anchor link, and means for mounting said knife on said lever.

4. In a cut pile tufting machine, a frame including a bed and a head overhanging the bed, an endwise movable needle carried by said head for penetrating a fabric on said bed and for projecting a loop of yarn therethrough, a hook mounted in said bed and having a loop penetrating blade for entering a loop of yarn presented by said needle, means for actuating said hook, a knife having a cutting edge cooperating with the under edge of the blade of said hook for severing loops thereon to form cut pile, means for mounting said knife in said bed and for actuating the same in timed relation to the actuation of said hook comprising a bed shaft, an eccentric on said bed shaft, a lever journaled intermediate its ends on said eccentric, means for mounting said knife upon one end of said lever, and an anchor link pivotally connected at its one end to the other end of said lever and at its other end to said frame.

5. In a cut pile tufting machine, a frame including a bed and a head overhanging said bed, an endwise movable needle carried by said head for penetrating a fabric on said bed and for projecting a loop of yarn therethrough, a hook mounted in said bed and having a loop penetrating blade for entering a loop of yarn presented by said needle, a bed shaft, an eccentric on said bed shaft, means connecting said eccentric and said hook for imparting actuation to said hook, a knife having a cutting edge cooperating with the under edge of the blade of Said hook for severing loops thereon to form cut pile, means 5 6 for mounting said knife in said bed and for actuating the References Cited by the Examiner same in timed relation to the actuation of said hook com- UNITED STATES PATENTS prising an eccentric on said bed shaft, a lever operatively connected intermediate its ends to said eccentric, an anchor link pivotally connected at its one end to said 6 284208o 7/58 Hoeselbart'h frame and at its other end to one end of said lever, and means for mounting said knife upon the other end of JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

said lever- RUSSELL c. MADER, Examiner. 

1. IN A CUT PILE TUFTING MACHINE, A FRAME INCLUDING A BED AND A HEAD OVERHANGING THE BED, AN ENDWISE MOVABLE NEEDLE CARRIED BY SAID HEAD FOR PENETRATING A FABRIC ON SAID BED AND FOR PROJECTING A LOOP OF YARN THERETHROUGH, A HOOK MOUNTED IN SAID BED AND HAVING A SHANK AND A LOOP PENETRATING BLADE EXTENDING FROM SAID SHANK FOR ENTERING A LOOP OF YARN PRESENTED BY SAID NEEDLE, MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID HOOK, A KNIFE DISPOSED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID HOOK AND HAVING A CUTTING EDGE COOPERATING WITH THE UNDER EDGE OF SAID BLADE FOR SEVERING LOOPS THEREON TO FORM CUT PILE, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID KNIFE IN SAID BED AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MOUNTING MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID KNIFE IN TIMED RELATION TO THE ACTUATION OF SAID HOOK FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID HOOK IN A PATH WHEREIN SAID CUTTING EDGE OF SAID KNIFE IS MOVED PAST AND IN CUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UNDER EDGE OF SAID BLADE AS SAID KNIFE IS CLOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE UNDER EDGE OF SAID BLADE ON THE CUTTING STROKE THEREOF AND IS MOVED ALONG SAID SHANK OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UNDER EDGE OF SAID BLADE AS THE KNIFE IS OPENED WITH THE RESPECT TO THE UNDER EDGE OF SAID BLADE ON THE RETURN STROKE THEREOF. 